General update

I pulled the frost covers back OFF the garden, summer has decided that we’re not done yet, with another two + weeks of 80degree temps.

Interestingly the hot peppers that I covered, even briefly, look better than the ones I didn’t. Mind, its not a huge surprise, but the difference is noticeable:

Leaf Footed Bug damage:

Not the best photo, BUT, that is what that Jalapeno looked like when I picked it off the plant. Pretty gross.

Notice the bandaid in that photo? Apparently I’m on a roll this year. Right before New Year I tried to slice off my fingertip with a cheese knife. Then I tripped over the dog and broke my arm. Then I sliced a finger open on a child safety buckle on a shopping cart (I never did find the sharp spot that I somehow caught either). Then, while adjusting the seat on the new mower I sliced a finger open. And now I’ve sliced a finger open while adjusting Apollo’s dog tags. I have no clue. Someone on FB asked if I have a medical issue with fragile skin, but after some thought I can’t see how I could, if I did I’d go through a hell of a lot of bandaids every day at work!

Speaking of work…..Christmas has shipped:

Its not out on the shelves yet, but it has started arriving in stores!

I made two batches of hot pepper jelly this week. Both made up, some 90%, of peppers frozen from last year’s bounty. Thank god I did so or there’d likely be no jelly this year.

On an interesting note, peppers that have been in the freezer for that long are much dryer than fresh peppers. I know, duh right? But I hadn’t considered how much that would affect jelly making. Usually I end up with slightly runny jelly at room temp. Not a big deal, it solidifies enough in the fridge. But these two batches were trying to jell in the pan as I cooked them! Next time I use long frozen peppers I need to remember to reduce the pectin.

And your daily dose of cute, and one of two reasons why you always check that rumpled blanket on the couch before sitting on it in this house: